Driver inattention blamed for crash at Hermon intersection

HERMON, Maine — A two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening near the intersection of Route 2 and Billings Road resulted in only a minor injury but demolished two vehicles and created a temporary traffic snarl.

Justin Smith, 19, of Levant was traveling along Route 2 toward Carmel about 7 p.m. when he arrived at the intersection, had a green light and proceeded through it, according to Penobscot County sheriff’s Deputy Jay Hallett, who assisted Deputy David Quinn at the scene.

As Smith was doing so, his Dodge pickup was struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Kirsten Bowden, 30, of Holden, who was turning from Billings Road onto Route 2, Hallett said.

“She thought she had enough time to make it through,” Hallett said, citing driver inattention on Bowden’s part as a factor in the accident.

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The impact from the crash caused a small fire to start under the hood of Smith’s truck. It quickly was put out by firefighters, Hallett said.

Hallett said Bowden suffered a bloody nose in the crash but did not require a trip to the hospital. Neither Smith nor his two passengers were injured, he said.

Both vehicles were demolished, he said.

The deputies were assisted at the scene by emergency medical personnel from Hermon Volunteer Rescue and by Hermon firefighters, who helped with traffic control, Hallett said.